props – Page 7 – Storytime with Ms. Emily Library

Storytime: Color Wheel – Blue

Posted on January 12, 2024January 12, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Welcome, 2024! I was off on medical leave during the month of December, so I’m coming back fresh, with a new theme series – colors!

While I was off, I was able to clock in and do some work from home, prepping for upcoming programs, ordering books, and so on. Usually when I’m preparing program plans, I can flip through books and get some inspiration for rhymes and songs based on the books that we’ll share. Unfortunately, I didn’t have access to my library’s collection at home, so I was spinning my wheels on how to plan when I hit upon the idea of colors as a theme. It’s very flexible – I was able to select any number of extension activities based on things that are a certain color, and I knew that I would have a lot of options for books to choose from when I returned to work and was able to look at them in person. Plus, I was able to plan out about two and a half months, getting “Pink” in Valentine’s Day week and “Green” in the week before St. Patrick’s.

I chose to do the rainbow colors plus pink, and started with primary colors, blue, red, then yellow. For each color, I brainstormed things that were that color (trying to keep to things that were usually or always that color.) I also searched other storytime blogs for color theme ideas. Here was my brainstorm list for blue:

Blueberries
Sky
Water/Rain/Ocean
Whale/Shark/Fish
Blue Jay/Bluebird
Butterfly
Jeans

I didn’t find any rhymes for jeans (if you know one, please share!), and I saved all my butterfly rhymes for Orange week, but this was a good starting out point. I think my lists for other colors got a bit longer – blue seems a little less naturally-occuring than red or green – but I found plenty of material to use!

Early Development Tip: Learning how to deal with big feelings is one crucial way we can help our child’s development. The act of taking slow, deep breaths triggers a cascade of mind-body systems that can result in increased comfort, relaxation, vigor, and alertness, and reduced symptoms of confusion, anxiety, stress, sadness, and anger – and it works fast. Taking a breathing break regularly gives kids the practice for using this tool when they really need it.

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)**

Warm Up Song: Wake Up, Feet* (TT) (TB) (FT)
This is a repeated song that everyone seems to enjoy. I always begin and end with feet and tummies, but find two other body parts to wiggle in the middle. This week it was hips & noses.

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)

Intro: Look at these beautiful colors on this color wheel! In the next couple of months, we’re going to get to know each of these colors in our storytimes. Today’s color is blue! Can you think of anything that is blue? Write blue items on whiteboard in blue pen. Is anyone wearing blue today?

I made this color wheel, using the “chart” feature in Canva, since I wanted an unusual seven-wedge pie, including pink, which I couldn’t find already made.

A round color wheel showing the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink, with a highlighted white outline wedge around blue, which can spin on a push pin in the middle.

I plan to do this rhyme at the beginning of all of the color sessions. Just in case someone doesn’t wear a particular color, I gave out small colored dot stickers (that my library already had) to each kid as they arrive.
Action Rhyme: The Color I See (TT) (TB) (FT)
Blue, blue is the color I see
If you’re wearing blue, then show it to me
Stand up, take a bow, turn around
Show me your blue and sit back on the ground
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

One very old book, and one very new book, both on the same topic.
Read: It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw (TT) (FT)

book cover for it looked like spilt milk

This is a very interactive book!
Read: Ploof by Ben Clanton & Andy Chou Musser (TB)

I decided to go with three clouds, since I had a lot planned. I’d made these clouds for a moon hiding game.
Flannel/Counting Rhyme: Five Little Clouds (TT) (TB) (FT)
Five little clouds up in the sky (five fingers up)
Drifting, floating way up high (float hand around)
When a big gust of wind came blowing through (blow on finger)
One disappeared from the sky so blue (lower a finger)
Source: Jen in the Library

Flannel of three clouds, one light blue, medium blue, and salmon colored.

There’s a lovely bird who flies through the blue sky who is also blue – a bluebird!
Fingerplay: Little Bluebird (TT) (FT)
Little bluebird rests in a tree (put index finger on shoulder)
Little bluebird looks at me (turn index finger inward)
Little bluebird chirps, “Hello” (flex finger)
Spread your wings and away you go! (spread arms and flap)
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

I did this one right after our cloud counting rhyme during the Teddy Bear session, and that was a mistake. Two counting songs in a row just felt a little repetitive. But it’s a fun song!
Do you know who this is? It’s Pigeon! Did you know he was a triplet? Here’s pigeon and his siblings sitting on a wall.
Song: Three Blue Pigeons (TB)
Three blue pigeons, Sittin’ on a wall
Three blue pigeons, Sittin’ on a wall
If one of those pigeons should happen to fall…
There’d be two blue pigeons sittin’ on a wall!
(count down)
Source: Long Beach Public Library

printed and laminated flannelboard pieces of a red brick wall with three copies of Mo Willems' pigeon character on top.

Since I have tried and failed to do circle walking songs in the past (too many people, too small a space), I encouraged kids to go round the blueberry bush with their grownup in a two-person circle.
Oh, what’s that I see? The bluebird landed on a blueberry bush! Yum!
Action Song: The Blueberry Bush (TT) (FT)
(tune of The Mulberry Bush)
Here we go round the blueberry bush,
The blueberry bush, the blueberry bush
Here we go round the blueberry bush,
So early in the morning!

additional verses:
Pick the blueberries, small and round…
Taste the blueberries, ripe and sweet…
Source: Librarian vs. Storytime

Breathing Break: Ocean Breath (TT) (TB) (FT)
Oh, my, I hear something. The ocean! Can we make the sound of the ocean with our breath? Take a big breath in, hold it for just a moment, then let the wave crash – TCHHHHHHH!

I have a blue shark puppet that was fun to pull out during verse two!
What might we find in the water?
Flannel/Action Song: All the Fish (TT) (TB) (FT)
All the fish are swimming in the water (weave hands back and forth as if swimming)
Swimming in the water, Swimming in the water
All the fish are swimming in the water
Bubble, bubble, bubble, (corkscrew index fingers upwards)
…SPLASH! (clap)

additional verses:
All the sharks are chomping…
All the whales are spraying…
Source: adapted from Caspar Babypants, from the album “I Found You”

flannel showing a small green and blue fish, a grey shark, and a blue whale. Sitting above the flannelboard is a puppet of a shark.

I showed one of the pails and asked if anyone knew what it was – “Bucket!” of course.
Whale would like to play a game with us!
Flannel Game: Whale behind the Pail (TT) (TB) (FT)
Little whale, little whale,
Are you behind the BLUE pail?
Source: Long Beach Public Library

Download the flannel template here!

printed and laminated flannelboard pieces of six pails in different colors: blue, purple, red, orange, green, and yellow, with a small blue whale.

So this one we’ll do at the end of each color session, too – so there are some familiarity bookending this series. I have rainbow colored scarves, and pass them out for everyone to wave around while we sing.
Scarf Song: Rainbow Colors (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Twinkle Twinkle)
Rainbow colors way up high, Happy colors in the sky
Red and pink and green and blue
Yellow, orange, and purple, too
Rainbow colors way up high, Happy colors in the sky
Source: adapted from King County (WA) Library System

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Blue Abstract Art (TB) (FT)
I’ve been thinking about doing more process art, and these color themes are a perfect way to do that. I provide some art supplies (all blue!) and let the kids do what they wish. Each week, I’ll plan to use slightly different media, but hope to keep the craft very open ended. This week I provided blue crayons, blue dot markers, and blue foam stickers and shapes.

picture of craft: blue abstract blob shapes are drawn in various shades of blue crayon. Blue dots from a dot marker are all over the page, and different shaped foam stickers (teardrops, triangles, and a whale) are also glued on.

Play Time
The toddlers have two laundry baskets of baby toys – rattles and cars, sorters and stackers, toy phones and spinners. For the older kids, I have foam blocks, soft food toys, puzzles, and a few other items that are a little more sophisticated than the baby toys. For Family Time, I gauge the overall age of the group and put out what seems right for them. We play for 5-10 minutes at the most, then I ring the bell and ask the kids to help me clean up. I think the clean up bit is good practice for them!

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
My Ocean is Blue – Darren Lebeuf & Ashley Barron
Little Blue Truck – Alice Schertle & Jill McElmurry
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus – Mo Willems
Blue Goose – Nancy Tafuri
The Proudest Blue – Ibtihaj Muhammad, SK Ali, & Hatem Aly
In a Blue Room – Jim Averbeck & Tricia Tusa
Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? – Eve Bunting & Sergio Ruzzier
Here Comes Ocean – Meg Fleming & Paola Zakimi
Blue Chicken – Deborah Freedman
Chomp: A Shark Romp – Michael Paul

This storytime was presented in-person on 1/8, 1/9, & 1/10/24.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics

*Lyrics to these songs can be found on the Repeated Songs & Rhymes page.

**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for:
(TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2
(TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5
(FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5

Book Babies Storytime (June)

Posted on January 5, 2024January 4, 2024 by msemilylibrary

Here’s another Book Babies plan! During the summer I was outside for my toddler classes, so this was the only indoor program I did in June and July. Here’s the plan from June, 2023. I do the same themeless plan a month at a time, to get the caregivers familiar and comfortable with the songs and rhymes. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

Early Literacy Tip: Tummy time is important for newborns and infants 1–3 months old who are just developing neck control. Tummy time helps develop the muscles they’ll need to roll over, sit up, crawl, and walk. Always stay with your baby during tummy time. Start with a few minutes at a time, 2-3 times a day, and work up. It’s also good for older babies, 4–7 months old. They should still spend some supervised time on their bellies, even if they can roll over and sit with some help. Tummy time helps them practice lifting their head and chest further by straightening their arms. This strengthens arm, chest, and back muscles.

Here is our room setup, with the parachute out for babies to lay on/sit on, with a few chairs for those who prefer them to the floor. My pink short chair is perfect for this – I can move easily from it to the floor if I want to demo one way or another. I wish our parachute was colorful – I think the original idea was that you can write on it. There are some names on there from years ago that are probably grown with their own children by now.

Photo showing Book Babies setup, with a round white parachute spread on a purple rug, with purple chairs to either side. A board book is set on each wedge, and a small pink chair sits at the head, with a dog puppet on the chair and a frog stuffy laying on the parachute. An easel to the side of the chair has song lyrics on it.

For this and the next song, I use puppets to greet everyone.
Welcome/Puppet Song: Hello, Everybody
(tune of Skip to My Lou)
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
Hello, everybody and how are you?
How are you today?

Hello, [name 1], how are you?
Hello, [name 2], how are you?
Hello, [name 3], how are you?
How are you today?

I finally changed up this hello animal puppet song! I do still start with the dog Scout, then bring out two other random animals.
Song: The Dog Says Hello
(tune of Farmer in the Dell)
The dog says hello, The dog says hello
Woof, woof, Woof-woof, woof-woof
The dog says hello!
Repeat with any other animals; try using puppets!
Source: adapted from the traditional

I sing this to the tune of Where Has My Little Dog Gone, and none of the videos I’ve seen of these words do. But I can’t not hear it to this tune! Do what works for you.
Body Song: Where Are Baby’s Fingers?
(tune of Where Has My Little Dog Gone)
Where, oh where are baby’s fingers?
Where, oh where are their toes?
Where, oh where, is baby’s belly button?
‘Round and round it goes!
(make circle around belly)

Where, oh where are baby’s ears?
Where, oh where is their nose?
Where, oh where, is baby’s belly button?
Round and round it goes!
Source: Jbrary

Fingerplay Rhyme: This Little Piggy
(wiggle each toe or finger on one side, starting with the thumb)
This little piggy went to market
This little piggy stayed home
This little piggy had roast beef
And this little piggy had none
And this little piggy cried “wee wee wee” all the way home (tickle!)

(now try on the other hand or foot, starting with the pinky)
This little piggy had a rub-a-dub-dub
And this little piggy had a scrub-a-dub-dub
This little pig-a-wig ran upstairs
And this little pig-a-wig cried out ‘BEARS!’
Down came the jar with a big slam bam (clap or pat foot)
And this little piggy had all the jam
Source: traditional, second verse found with King County (WA) Library System

Bounce Rhyme: Rocking Horse
Rocking horse, rocking horse, to and fro (rock side to side)
Side to side and away we go!
Rocking horse, rocking horse, front and back (rock front and back)
Don’t fall off just like that! Whoaaa! (lean back)
Source: Intellidance

This is such a really fun rhyme! The person who posted it to the Storytime Solidarity Facebook Group didn’t have a source, so if anyone knows where it came from or who wrote it, please let me know!
Bounce/Lift: Fishy, Fishy, Fishy
Fishy, fishy, fishy goes swishy, swishy, swishy (bounce)
Flip flop, flip flop, flip flop (rock side to side)
Uuuuup, (lift baby high in air)
KERPLOP! (return baby to lap)
Source: Storytime Solidarity

After some bouncing and lifting, we slow it down a bit with a lullaby. This is such a sweet one.
Ukulele Lullaby: Rockabye You
Rockabye you high, Rockabye you low
Rockabye you close, Rockabye you slow
Rockabye you high, Rockabye you low
Rockabye you everywhere we go

Rockabye the sun, Rockabye the moon
Rockabye the sweet flowers growing in June
Rockabye you love, My turtle dove
Rockabye you everywhere I go
Source: Kathy Reid-Naiman

Download a ukulele songsheet for Rockabye You

I place a book on each wedge on the parachute , so I encourage grownups to take a few minutes to grab a book that is nearby and looks interesting, and to interact with the book however they’d like with their baby. They can read the text, but they don’t have to – they can describe the pictures, colors, or even just let their baby practice turning pages. We generally do this for 2-3 minutes, or until the group as a whole seems to be nearing a stopping point.
Read: choose a board book that’s nearby and looks interesting to you!

Pictured:
Summer Babies – Kathryn O. Galbraith & Adela Pons
Sharing – Yusuke Yonezu
My Colors/Mis colores – Rebecca Emberley
Mama Bird, Baby Birds – Angela Johnson & Rhonda Mitchell

Before doing this rhyme, I shared our early development tip. This is a great rhyme to make rolling over fun. I also had to share what I learned about “stiles” when I was researching what that word was, and how they worked. (A stile is something that allows humans (and sometimes their dogs) to easily go over a fence in a field, while not letting the livestock through.)
Rhyme: Leg Over Leg
Leg over leg (criss cross legs)
The dog went to Dover
He came to a stile And – WHOOPS – He went over!
(lift legs or gently roll over)
Source: Jbrary

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Each month is a new prop. This month we got out our scarves.

Scarf Rhyme: Rain on the Green Grass
Rain on the green grass (shake on floor)
Rain on the trees (shake high)
Rain on the roof (hold above head)
But not on me! (drop scarf)
repeat with: Sun, Snow, Leaves
Source: Jbrary

We’ve done this song with the parachute before, so this month we used scarves.
Action/Scarf Song: Come Under My Umbrella
(tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie?)
Come under my umbrella, umbrella, umbrella (scarf over head)
Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain (wiggle scarf)
With thunder and lightning, and lightning and thunder (wave scarf dramatically in the air)
Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain
Source: traditional, see it used with scarves here

A fun take on the traditional nursery rhyme.
Scarf Rhyme: Little Bo Peep
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep (hide scarf)
And doesn’t know where to find them
Leave them alone
and they’ll come home (bring scarf out)
Wagging their tails behind them! (wave scarf)
Source: Jbrary

And scarves are just perfect for a game of peekaboo!
Scarf Song: Peek a Boo
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo
I see you, I see you
I see your button nose
I see your tiny toes
I see you! Peek-a-boo!
Source: Jbrary

To adapt this for babies, we bounce or clap rather than scraping our hands past each other, and walk fingers up and down baby’s body, arms, or legs for the “if you want to take a trip” part.
Lifting Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
If you want to take a trip climb aboard my rocket ship
Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Blast off!
Source: Jbrary

I find it really helpful to finish with a rhyme that definitively says that storytime is over. This one is short and sweet.
Goodbye Rhyme: Hands Up High
Hands up high! (Put your hands in air)
Now give a big sigh (sigh and bring hands down)
Our storytime’s over
So wave bye-bye (wave)
Source: Pasadena Public Library

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
My Baby and Me – Lynn Reiser & Penny Gentieu
The Seals on the Bus – Lenny Hort & G. Brian Karas
Goodnight Moon – Margaret Wise Brown & Clement Hurd
Baby Day! – Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Pat the Bunny – Dorothy Kunhardt
The Neighborhood Mother Goose – Nina Crews
Faces – Shelley Rotner & Ken Kreisler

This storytime was presented in-person on 6/8, 6/15, 6/22, & 6/29/23.

Storytime Handout:

Book Babies Storytime (May)

Posted on December 29, 2023December 28, 2023 by msemilylibrary

I’m slowly adding my backlog of Book Babies plans, so here’s what we did in the month of May, 2023. I do the same themeless plan a month at a time, to get the caregivers familiar and comfortable with the songs and rhymes. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

Early Literacy Tip: The use of small percussion instruments such as bells, rhythm sticks, shakers, and drums helps children with muscular development and coordination.

I start this one with the same puppet as above, my floppy-eared dog, Scout. Then I’ll bring out one or two other puppets to say hello.
Welcome/Puppet Song: When Animals Get Up in the Morning
When dogs get up in the morning
They always say hello!
When dogs get up in the morning
They always say hello!
“Woof, woof, woof, woof,” That is what they say
“Woof, woof, woof, woof,” That is what they say
Source: King County (WA) Library System

Body Song: I Wake Up My Hands
I wake up my hands with a Clap, clap, clap,
Clap, clap, clap, Clap, clap, clap,
I wake up my hands with a clap, clap, clap,
And I wiggle my wiggles away!

Feet…stomp, stomp, stomp
Belly…beep, beep, beep
Body…wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
Source: Jbrary

Fingerplay Rhyme: Little Gnome
Up to the doorway (finger walks up arm)
Comes a little gnome (tickle neck)
Knock, knock! (gently “knock” top of head)
Ding, dong! (tap nose)
Anybody home? (finger to chin, can pull down to open mouth)
Source: Sing, Rhyme and Play with Ms. Christina

Bounce Song: Ride, Baby, Ride
Ride, baby, ride, Cha-cha, cha-cha, cha-cha
Ride that horsey ride
Ride, baby, ride, Cha-cha, cha-cha, cha-cha
Ride that horsey ride (repeat, whispering)
Whooooaaaa!
Source: Jbrary

Lifting Rhyme: Grand Old Duke of York
The grand old Duke of York, He had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again!
And when you’re up, you’re up
And when you’re down, you’re down
And when you’re only half-way uuuuup…
You’re neither up nor down!
Source: traditional

After some bouncing and lifting, we slow it down a bit with a lullaby. I remind grownups that rocking and holding your baby while singing is a great way to calm them, even if it’s not bedtime.
Ukulele Lullaby: I See the Moon
(tune of Hush Little Baby)
I see the moon and the moon sees me
Down through the leaves of the old oak tree
Please let the moon that shines on me
Shine on the ones I love

Over the mountain, over the sea
Back where my heart is longing to be
Please let the moon that shines on me
Shine on the ones I love!
Source: Jbrary

Download a ukulele songsheet for I See the Moon

Thumbnail of I See the Moon ukulele chord sheet

Pictured:
Library Babies – Puck & Violet Lemay
In My Heart – Mackenzie Porter & Jenny Løvlie
Leo, Sleep Tight! – Anna McQuinn & Ruth Hearson

Tickle Song: Spots, Spots, Spots
(tune of the baseball organ build up)
Spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots
A leopard has lots of spots, What a lot of spots he’s got!
A tiger’s stripes are always nice, But a leopard has lots of…
Spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots, spots
(tickle, tickle, tickle!)
Source: Jbrary

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Each month is a new prop. This month we got out the jingle bells! This was a lot of fun and the babies really liked the jingle noise. I did try to emphasize that there was a possibility that a bell piece could come loose and be a choking hazard, to try to keep grownups on the lookout. I did see bells go in mouths, so I am not sure if I would do bells for this group again. I wonder if there are infant-safe bells out there.

Bell Song: Are You Sleeping?
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping? (keep bells quiet)
Brother John, Brother John,
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing (ring bells)
Ding ding dong, ding ding dong
(try substituting your child’s name for “Brother John”)
Source: traditional

This is a good one for demonstrating a steady beat.
Bell Rhyme: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4
1 – 2 – 3 – 4, Jingle at the cottage door
5 – 6 – 7 – 8, Jingle at the cottage gate
Source: Kathy Reid-Naiman

Bell Song: Ice Cream Truck
(tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man)
Do you see the ice cream truck?
The ice cream truck, The ice cream truck?
Do you see the ice cream truck?
It’s driving down the street!

The bells go ring-a-ling-a-ling…
Source: adapted from the traditional

Bell Song: Shake Your Bell In the Air
(tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
Shake your bell in the air, in the air
Shake your bell in the air, in the air
Shake your bell in the air and hold it right there
Shake your bell in the air, in the air

…on the side… as you smile really wide
…way down low… then wave and say hello
Source: Jbrary

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
This Is the Way a Baby Rides – Susan Meyers & Hiroe Nakata
Leo Loves Baby Time – Anna McQuinn & Ruth Hearson
This Little Piggy – Tim Harrington
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? – Bill Martin, Jr. & Eric Carle
My Very First Mother Goose – Iona Opie & Rosemary Wells

This storytime was presented in-person on 5/1, 5/8, & 5/15/23.

Storytime Handout:

Storytime: Jingle Jam

Posted on December 15, 2023December 14, 2023 by msemilylibrary

What is seasonal, non-holiday, interactive, and… loud? Jingle bells! We have a set of jingle bell bracelets in our storytime supply closet that I don’t get out very regularly, and I thought they would make a great December program focus. I had them planned for the second week of December, but then had to schedule some surgery. I needed to be off work for the month, so I moved this program up to the last week of November and canceled the rest. I’m glad I did get to do it – we had a lot of fun jingle jangling away!

You can see a shortened virtual version of this program here.

Early Literacy Tip: Like a muscle, the brain needs to work to grow. Playing an instrument stimulates the brain, which can accelerate development in toddlers. Studies have shown that playing music activates the areas of the brain responsible for language, speech and reading.

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)**

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)

Intro: Today we are going to make lots of music with our Jingle Jam. We’ll play instruments and dance and sing. Let’s first loosen up a little and start to jam with our bodies. Let’s pretend we are in a parade!

This is a super fun rhyme. We did it a couple of times. The source link doesn’t have a video, so if you’d like to see/hear me doing it, click the link above to the virtual version.
Action Rhyme: The Parade (TT) (TB) (FT)
Clap your hands! (clap, clap, clap)
Stamp your feet! (stomp, stomp, stomp)
The parade is coming down the street
Bum, bum, bum: a great big drum
Root-a-toot: a horn and flute
Bang, bang, bang: Cymbals clang
Ding-ding-ding: triangles ring
Clap your hands! (clap, clap, clap)
Stamp your feet! (stomp, stomp, stomp)
The parade is coming down the street
Source: King County (WA) Library System

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

One of the moms quietly said all the words of this along with me – apparently it’s one of their at-home favorites that they do over and over. So sweet! Despite the Santa-like hats the animals are wearing, this book doesn’t have any references to holidays, just snow and sleighs. It’s a great one for the youngest groups. I used a jingle bell to accompany me whenever I said “jingle.”
Read: Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee (TT) (FT)

This is a very interactive book if you encourage the group to do the instruments with you.
Read: Play This Book by Jessica Young & Daniel Wiseman (TB)

Before we get our instruments out, let’s exercise our hands with a fingerplay.
Fingerplay: Five Plump Peas (TT) (TB) (FT)
Five plump peas in a peapod pressed
(make a fist and cover with the other hand)
One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest
(raise all fingers on first hand one by one)
they grew, and they grew, and they grew, and never stopped
(hands get wider and wider)
They grew SO BIG that the peapod… POPPED!
(hands spread as wide as possible, then CLAP!)
Source: Jbrary

Time to get out the bells! Our bells look like this, with four large bells attached to a velcroed wrist band.

Jingle bell instruments: four silver bells are attached to a nylon wristband that can velcro together. Shown in green and red.

Let’s practice our bells with this rhyme.
Bell Rhyme: Jingle Bells UP (TT) (TB) (FT)
Jingle bells up, Jingle bells down
Jingle bells dancing all around the town
Dance them on your shoulders, Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knees, And tuck them into bed
Source: adapted from the traditional Tommy Thumbs rhyme

I had this as an “optional” song on my plan, but when the time came I could not remember the tune! I have since remembered – I know it’s a common tune but I can’t place it. I just now recorded myself singing it to a voice memo for future reference!
I also can’t figure out where I first got this. Google searches aren’t helping, so maybe I made it up? (If you know the tune or source, please let me know!)
Bell Song: Ring Those Bells
Ring those bells and tap your toes
Ring those bells and tap your toes
Ring those bells and tap your toes
Now give a little kiss, kiss, kiss!

Additional verses:
…and clap, clap, clap … Give a little hug, hug, hug
…and shake, shake, shake … Give a little wave, wave, wave
Source: ??

It actually worked out to skip the previous song, since putting our bells to bed in Jingle Bells UP was a perfect segue to this song. We started with our bells quiet in bed (tucked under our arm) then got them out to ring loudly starting with the “Morning bells” line. On the second time through, I encouraged everyone to sing their child’s name instead of “Brother John” – so I saing “Sister Emily.”
Bell Song: Are You Sleeping? (TT) (TB) (FT)
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping? (keep bells quiet)
Brother John, Brother John,
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing (ring bells)
Ding ding dong, ding ding dong
(try substituting your child’s name for “Brother John”)
Source: traditional

This is a lovely jazzy tune that I found on a video with some other jingle songs.
Oh, my! My bells turned into a jingle bug! Yours did, too! Here’s a song about the jingle bugs.
Bell Song: Jingle Bug (TT) (TB) (FT)
Some bugs wiggle, Some bugs creep
Some bugs jump to a jingling beat
Jingle bug just wants to play
What will your bug do today?

She’s gonna wiggle to the left and wiggle to the right
Wiggle way up high and wiggle out of sight (hide behind back)
Where’s that Jingle Bug you say?
Sneaking softly back out to play! (try to bring out bell without ringing)

Additional verses:
She’s gonna creep to the left and creep to the right…
She’s gonna jump to the left and jump to the right…
Source: Clap for Classics

Dancing with our bells to a recorded song. I always put out a list of the dances so we know which ones come next.
One last chance to jam!
Recorded Song: List of Dances (TT) (TB) (FT)
Source: Jim Gill From the Album “Jim Gill Makes It Noisy In Boise, Idaho”

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Jingle Bell Bracelets and Dot Painting Coloring Sheets (TB) (FT)
I couldn’t think of any better craft than to give the kids jingle bells of their own. At the same time, though, I could see that these bells could be a choking hazard. I said and put up warnings for grown-ups to always be supervising when playing with bells, and offered some dot painting for an extra or alternative craft. For the bells, I bought some multicolored 15 mm bells, and provided chenille stems for them to string onto to create a bracelet. The coloring sheet I chose is from the wonderful Elizabeth Dulemba, who I love and use her coloring pages regularly.

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
The Sounds Around Town – Maria Carluccio
Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! – Wynton Marsalis & Paul Rogers
Music Class Today – David Weinstone & Vin Vogel
The Composer Is Dead – Lemony Snicket, Nathaniel Stookey & Carson Ellis
Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin – Lloyd Moss & Marjorie Priceman
A Neighborhood Walk, a Musical Journey – Pilar Winter Hill & Olivia Duchess
The Oboe Goes Boom Boom Boom – Colleen AF Venable & Lian Cho
This Magical Musical Night – Rhonda Gowler Greene & James Rey Sanchez
Pokko and the Drum – Matthew Forsythe
A Is for Oboe – Lera Auerbach, Marilyn Nelson, Paul Hoppe

This storytime was presented in-person on 11/27, 11/28, & 11/29/23.

Storytime Handout:

*Lyrics to these songs can be found on the Repeated Songs & Rhymes page.

**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for:
(TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2
(TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5
(FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5

Book Babies Storytime (April)

Posted on December 8, 2023November 30, 2023 by msemilylibrary

I’m slowly adding my backlog of Book Babies plans, so here’s what we did in the month of April, 2023. I do the same themeless plan a month at a time, to get the caregivers familiar and comfortable with the songs and rhymes. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

Early Literacy Tip: Demonstrating the meaning of words with the way we say them reinforces that concept for babies. When we say “slowly” slowly and “quickly” quickly, our babies learn faster. In addition, slowing down our words – “slow-ly, slow-ly, slow-ly” makes it clear that each syllable is a separate sound.

Instead of opening and shutting our fingers, we opened and shut our whole hands in a clapping motion. We talked here a bit about how babies aren’t quite ready for that fine motor manipulation, but as they become older toddlers and preschoolers it will help them with their grip strength.
Fingerplay Rhyme: Open, Shut Them
Open, shut them, Open, shut them
Give a little clap, clap, clap
Open, shut them, Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap, lap, lap!
Creepy, crawly, Creepy, crawly
Right up to your chin, chin, chin
Open up your little mouth,
But do not let them in, in, in!
Source: traditional

Since this is a longer song and we’re doing all the verses, I eliminated the second bounce/lift song I usually do.
Bounce & Lift Song: She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain
(bounce baby until the end of each line)
She’ll be comin’ round the mountain when she comes (yee haw!) (lift)
She’ll be comin’ round the mountain when she comes (yee haw!) (lift)
She’ll be comin’ round the mountain,
She’ll be comin’ round the mountain
She’ll be comin’ round the mountain when she comes (yee haw) (lift)

She’ll be ridin’ six white horses… (whoa there) (tilt back)
Oh, we’ll all have chicken and dumplings… (yum, yum) (rub tummy)
Yes, we’ll all go out to meet her… (kiss, kiss)
Source: traditional, baby bounce adaptation from Jbrary

After a fun bounce, we slow it down a bit with a lullaby. I remind grownups that rocking and holding your baby while singing is a great way to calm them, even if it’s not bedtime.
Ukulele Lullaby: I See the Moon
(tune of Hush Little Baby)
I see the moon and the moon sees me
Down through the leaves of the old oak tree
Please let the moon that shines on me
Shine on the ones I love

Over the mountain, over the sea
Back where my heart is longing to be
Please let the moon that shines on me
Shine on the ones I love!
Source: Jbrary

Download a ukulele songsheet for I See the Moon

Pictured:
Hello Bugs, What Do You Do? – Loes Botman
Kiss by Kiss/Ocêtôwina – Richard Van Camp & Mary Cardinal Collins
Hey, Baby! – Andrea Pippins

Tickle Rhyme: Slowly, Slowly
Slowly, slowly, very slowly creeps the garden snail
Slowly, slowly, very slowly up the garden rail
Quickly, quickly, very quickly runs the little mouse
Quickly, quickly very quickly into his little house
Source: Jbrary

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Each month is a new prop. This month we moved all the books and babies off the parachute and actually used it with our rhymes and songs.

Any rhyme that has a lot of “up” and “down” are good ones to adapt to parachute time.
Lift/Parachute Rhyme: Grand Old Duke of York
The grand old Duke of York, He had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again!
And when you’re up, you’re up
And when you’re down, you’re down
And when you’re only half-way uuuuup…
You’re neither up nor down!
Source: traditional

Lift/Parachute Song: Let’s Go Riding On an Elevator
Let’s go riding on an elevator, elevator, elevator
Let’s go riding on an elevator, Ride along with me!
First floor, Second floor, Third floor, Fourth floor, Fifth floor…
And down-down-down-down-down!
Source: Jbrary

The first week we tried to put the babies in the middle of the parachute and the adults held and walked the parachute in a circle around them – the idea being that the babies would slowly rotate in the middle. (Like in this video) Instead, the babies fell over on each other. (Oops!) After that, we held our babies and walked around in a circle holding the parachute.
Parachute/Action Song: Ring Around the Rosie
Ring around the rosie,
Pocket full of posies
Ashes, ashes,
We all fall down!
Source: traditional

This is a great way to put the parachute away.
Parachute Song: Parachute Fly
(tune of Skip to my Lou)
(kids go under the parachute and adults raise and lower)
Up, up, up it goes,
Down, down, down so low
Raise our parachute to the sky
Count to 3 and watch it fly
Spoken:
Up on one…
Down on two…
Up on three…
and FLY! (adults let go and leader pulls ‘chute in to themselves)
Source: Gymboree

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

This storytime was presented in-person on 4/3, 4/10, & 4/17/23.

Storytime Handout:

Book Babies Storytime (March)

Posted on November 17, 2023November 15, 2023 by msemilylibrary

I’m slowly adding my backlog of Book Babies plans, so here’s what we did in the month of March, 2023. I do the same themeless plan a month at a time, to get the caregivers familiar and comfortable with the songs and rhymes. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

If you have any control over your schedule, I highly recommend starting your Monday morning with an infant class. It always makes me happy and gives a positive start to the week! The books featured in the photos below are just some of the board books made available for individual reading.

See all the Book Babies plans here.

Early Literacy Tip: With egg shaker songs for babies, we don’t want to overwhelm them or scare them with sound. We don’t expect them to do specific movements, but there are two main ways we can use egg shakers with them: We shake the egg shakers to the steady beat along with the songs we sing, or we can give them to the babies to shake while we sing or listen. The goal here is merely to expose them to the sound of songs. If we’re the ones shaking the beat, they’ll start to build an unconscious awareness of the beat.

Body Song: These Are the Toes of My Baby
(tune of Take Me Out to the Ballgame)
These are the toes of my baby,
These are the toes of my sweet
These are her feet and her tiny knees
I can’t help it I’ll give them a squeeze!
And she’s got two arms just for hugging
And hands that clap and wave
But it’s her eyes, ears, nose and her chin
That really draw me in!
(big smooch!)
Source: Jbrary

Rhythm Rhyme: Hippopotamus on a City Bus
(bounce until the last line of each verse)
A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus
Got on, got on, got on a city bus
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“You’re squishing us!” (hug baby)
A cow… “Mooooove over!” (lean far to one side)
A snake…“Sssssssssit down!” (fall thru knees)
A sheep…“Baaaack up!” (lean far back)
Source: Jbrary

We generally got up to three repetitions.
Lifting Rhyme: Tick Tock
Tick tock, tick tock, I’m a little cuckoo clock
Tick tock, tick tock, Now I’m striking one o’clock
Cuckoo! (count up and increase lifts!)
Source: Jbrary

After a fun bounce, we slow it down a bit with a lullaby. I remind grownups that rocking and holding your baby while singing is a great way to calm them, even if it’s not bedtime. I would do Spanish to start, but then ask if anyone knew how to say “I love you” in any other languages. If not, I had a cheat sheet on my ukulele songsheet!
Bilingual Lullaby with Ukulele: Yo te amo / I Love You
Yo te amo, yo te amo
All day long I’ll sing this little song to you.
Yo te amo, yo te amo
Darling, I love you!
Source: Jbrary
Thanks to Storytime Ukulele, who published the chords to this song. I made my own PDF version that you can download.

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

thumbnail for yo te amo ukulele songsheet

Pictured:
Peekaboo Planet – John Hutton & Candice Hartsough
Maisy’s Bus – Lucy Cousins
City Baby – Laurie Elmquist & Ashley Barron

After reading, we do a rhyme that’s good for “on your back.” I saw this modification for the traditional nursery rhyme from Intellidance, which uses leg movements for each line.
Action Nursery Rhyme: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
1, 2, Buckle my shoe (“walk” feet on numbers, tap feet together)
3, 4, Shut the door (open and close legs)
5, 6, Pick up sticks (lift legs up)
7, 8, Lay them straight (stretch legs out)
9, 10, A big fat hen! (tickle!)
Source: Intellidance

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Each month is a new prop. This month I shared today’s early literacy tip and gave two egg shakers to each child/caregiver pair.

Shaker Song: Shake Your Shaker
(tune of Grand Old Duke of York)
You shake your shaker high
You shake your shaker low
You shake your shaker fast, fast, fast
And then you shake it slow
Source: Harris County (TX) Public Library

Shaker Song: If You’re Happy and You Know It
If you’re happy and you know it, give a shake
If you’re happy and you know it, give a shake
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it, give a shake
…give a tap
…clap your egg!
Source: Jbrary

After doing the traditional rhyme earlier, I thought it would be fun to reinforce it with the shaker egg version.
Shaker Song: 1 – 2, Shake it On Your Shoe
1, 2 – Shake it on your shoe
3, 4 – Shake it on the floor
5, 6 – Stir and mix
7, 8 – Stand up straight
9, 10 – Wave to your friends!
Source: Jbrary

Shaker Song: The Milkshake Song
You take a little milk – pour some milk!
And you take a little cream – pour some cream!
You stir it all up, You shake it and you’ll sing…
Milkshake, milkshake shake it up, shake it up!
Milkshake, milkshake shake it all up! (x2)
Source: Old Town School of Folk Music, via Jbrary

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
Maisy Big, Maisy Small – Lucy Cousins
Te amo, Bebé, Little One – Lisa Wheeler & Maribel Suárez
Baby Day – Jane Godwin, Davina Bell, & Freya Blackwood
Moo-Moo, I Love You! – Tom Lichtenheld & Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Animals Here We Grow! – Shelley Rotner
Hand in Hand – Rosemary Wells

This storytime was presented in-person on 3/6, 3/13, & 3/20/23.

Storytime Handout:

Storytime: Mistaken Identity!

Posted on November 10, 2023November 9, 2023 by msemilylibrary

So, yes, this is a kind of weird storytime theme. But- when you look at the literature, there’s actually a lot of picture books that incorporate a character being mistaken for someone/something else – a classic example is the wolf dressed as granny in Little Red Riding Hood. So really, the hard part is explaining what it is and finding some good extension activities to incorporate into the program.

Once upon a time I did this theme on Facebook live early in the pandemic, but three years later I wanted to revisit it. I ended up using the same two books as read alouds, but changed out and added some rhymes and songs.

Early Literacy Tip: Moving to music, dancing, swaying, running, and jumping help young children feel rhythm and begin to understand how their bodies work. Such movements also help them gain muscle control and improve balance. All of this contributes to a child’s gross motor development.

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)**

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)

Intro: It was a case of mistaken identity! Wait, what does that mean? It means that a person or an animal is mistaken for something they’re not. Maybe they were in disguise, or maybe someone just didn’t see them well and made a mistake! There are lots of fun books about mistaken identity, and I thought it would be fun for us to pretend to be other things today, too. Let’s start by pretending to be a teapot!

Action Song: I’m a Little Teapot (TT) (TB) (FT)
I’m a little teapot
Short and stout
Here is my handle,
Here is my spout
When I get all steamed up
Then I shout:
“Tip me over and Pour me out!”
Source: traditional

Action Rhyme: Animal Movement (TT) (TB) (FT)
Can you hop like a rabbit?
Can you jump like frog?
Can you waddle like a duck?
Can you run like a dog?
Can you slither like a snake?
Can you swim like a fish?
Can you sit down now and
Be as still as this?
Source: adapted from Jen in the Library

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

I thought that my younger class (1-2s) would like the pop up element of this book, but they were just as distracted as usual. Oh, well.
Read: The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner & Jonathan Lambert (TT)

This one went over a little better!
Read: Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld (TB) (FT)

I thought I was pretty clever to adapt this classic song for Duck! Rabbit! Additionally, I had a bunny and duck puppet to put on for each of those parts of the song, which the littles loved. Everyone loves puppets! For the group that didn’t read that title, we instead did the green frog and bear verses, and skipped the sniff sniff verse.
Action Song: Sniff Sniff (TT) (TB) (FT)
Sniff, sniff went the little white rabbit one day,
Sniff, sniff went the little white rabbit
Sniff, sniff went the little white rabbit one day,
And they all went sniff, sniff, sniff!
But… We know ducks go (clap) quacky, quacky, quack!
Quacky, quacky, quack! Quacky, quacky, quack!
We know ducks go Quacky, quacky, quack!
They don’t go sniff, sniff, sniff!

Additional Verses:
Grrr, grrr went the big brown bear one day… (make claws)
But… We know bears go huggy, huggy, hug (hug self)

Mm-ah went the little green frog one day… (stick out tongue)
But… We know frogs go sha-na-na-na-na… (wave arms)
Source: Jbrary (v 1 original)

At this point we handed out shaker eggs, and pretended they were various things like popcorn and milkshakes. Anything to relate to the theme, right?

Shaker Rhyme: Shake It On Your Shoe (TT) (TB) (FT)
1, 2 Shake it on your shoe
3, 4 Shake it on the floor
5, 6 Stir and mix
7, 8 Stand up straight
9, 10 Wave to your friends!
Source: Jbrary

Shaker Rhyme: Pop, Pop, Pop (TT) (TB)
Pop, pop, pop, Put the corn in the pot
Pop, pop, pop, Shake it ’til it’s hot
Pop, pop, pop, Lift the lid and what have you got?
Popcorn!
Source: Jbrary

Shaker Song: Shake Your Shaker (TT) (FT)
(tune of London Bridge)
Shake your shakers in the air, Shake it here, shake it there
Shake your shakers in the air, Shake your shakers!

Additional verses:
Shake it high and shake it low, Shake it yes, shake it no…
Shake it up and shake it down, Shake your shaker on the ground…
Shake it near and shake it far, Drive your shaker like a car…
Shake it fast and shake it slow, Shake it stop, shake it go…
Source: Jbrary

Shaker Song: Milkshake Song (TT) (TB) (FT)
You take a little milk – pour some milk!
And you take a little cream – pour some cream!
You stir it all up, You shake it and you’ll sing…

Milkshake, milkshake
shake it up, shake it up!
Milkshake, milkshake
shake it all up! (x2)
Source: Old Town School of Folk Music, from the album Songs for Wiggleworms

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Magic Crayon Resist Painting (TB) (FT)
This was a suggestion from Mandy on the Storytime Solidarity Facebook group, and it was a very fun and easy craft. I encouraged the group to draw as much as possible on their sheet of white construction paper with the white crayons provided, then they could use watercolor paints to “reveal” their drawings like magic! On my picture, it is hard to see. Based on that experiment, I really encouraged everyone to load up their brushes with a lot of paint to make it darker than I did.

craft showing white crayon drawings revealed by pastel watercolors.

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
I’m a Unicorn – Helen Yoon
Kitty – Rebecca Jordan-Glum
Wolfie the Bunny – Ame Dyckman & Zachariah OHora
Little Red Riding Hood – Saviour Pirotta & Olivia Beckman
Bad Dog – Mike Boldt
Niblet & Ralph – Zachariah OHora
Mother Bruce – Ryan T. Higgins
I Am a Tiger – Karl Newson & Ross Collins
Vampenguin – Lucy Ruth Cummins
Where’s Walrus – Stephen Savage

This storytime was presented in-person on 11/6, 11/7, & 11/8/23.

Storytime Handout:

handout including suggested books, rhyme and song lyrics.

*Lyrics to these songs can be found on the Repeated Songs & Rhymes page.

**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for:
(TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2
(TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5
(FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5

Storytime: Cats & Bats

Posted on November 3, 2023November 2, 2023 by msemilylibrary

Coming closer to the end of October, I chose a theme that incorporated some classic Halloween animals, without being overtly Halloweeny. The rhyming was incidental but welcome!

I thought that I had a book (or could find a book) that incorporated both animals in a story, but alas, no luck. There was a title I got hopeful about, Oscar and the Bat: A Book About Sound by Geoff Waring, but unfortunately it was developmentally a little beyond my group. And Bat Wings! Cat Wings? by Laura Gehl isn’t a story about cats with bat wings as I anticipated. Instead, I used a nonfiction title to show some photographs of bats, and read Denise Fleming’s Mama Cat Has Three Kittens to great success.

Early Literacy Tip: Encourage and support your child’s pretend play – they are developing their symbolic thinking. This helps them to visualize what is not present, helps with problem solving, and with reading where pictures and text represent real things.

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)**

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (FT)

Intro: Today we are talking about two nocturnal animals – animals that (mostly) sleep during the day and are active at night, just like the owl that we learned about last week. But this week we’re talking cats and bats! Does anyone have a pet cat at home? Do they like to sleep during the day? Does anyone have a pet bat at home? Bats are mostly wild animals. Has anyone seen a bat in person or up close before? I showed some of the pictures from the nonfiction title, including a bat eating some fruit, bats roosting in a cave, and a bat flying with their wingspan clearly showing.

Share: Bats by Julie Murray

Let’s do some rhymes about bats and cats! Bats like to sleep upside down, right? So here are our bats! (point index fingers downward)
Fingerplay: Two Little Friends (TT) (TB) (FT)
Two little bats hanging in a cave
One named Dora, and one named Dave
Fly away, Dora, Fly away, Dave
Come back, Dora, Come back, Dave!

Now cats – cats have two pointy ears, can you make two pointy ears?
(put fingers in V shape)
Two little cats prowling under the moon
One named Jasper, and one named June
Jump away, Jasper, Jump away, June (I jumped my finger-cats as well as jumping my body!)
Jump back, Jasper, Jump back, June!
Source: verse 1-Door2Door Librarian, Verse 2-original

I think I need a stretch. Will you stretch with me?
Action Rhyme: My Kitten Stretches (TB) (FT)
My kitten stretches one paw high
With the other she’ll touch the sky
Then say “meow” and turn around
Then fold her paws and sit right down
Source: Lady Librarian Life

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

A simple but very funny story that worked very well for all of my sessions.
Read: Mama Cat Has Three Kittens by Denise Fleming (TT) (TB) (FT)

Time for scarves! Some of these were a bit of a stretch with the scarves, but it worked.

Action/Scarf Song: The Old Gray Cat (TT) (TB) (FT)
The old gray cat is sleeping, Sleeping, sleeping
The old gray cat is sleeping in the house

The little mice are creeping…
The little mice are nibbling…
The old gray cat is creeping…
The little mice are hiding…
So the old gray cat is sleeping…
Source: King County (WA) Library System

We held our scarves with two corners upside down, then held them in the middle to fly them around.
Scarf Song: Bats Are Sleeping (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Bats are sleeping, Bats are sleeping
Upside down, upside down
Sleeping in the morning sun
Waiting for the night to come
Then they’ll fly around, Then they’ll fly around
Source: Child Care Lounge

Whenever we say the word “pounce” throw your scarf up in the air and try to catch it! Let’s practice: 1, 2, 3, POUNCE!
Scarf Rhyme: Kitty Cat POUNCE (TT) (TB) (FT)
Kitty cat, kitty cat sneaks out of the house
Kitty cat, kitty cat creeps up to a mouse And… POUNCE!

Kitty cat, kitty cat creeps up to a bird
Kitty cat, kitty cat is not even heard And… POUNCE!

But the mouse ran, and the bird flew away,
So kitty cat found a ball of yarn to play And… POUNCE!
Source: Literary Hoots

I have three colors of scarves – red, yellow, and blue. I asked the kids to take a look at their scarf and notice what color it is before we did this. I did the first part of the rhyme for each color. But when it was time to put them away, everyone came up at once so I ended up just saying, Let’s bring our bats back to the cave to roost! I put the colored bats on the board as a visual cue.
Scarf or Flannel Rhyme: Color Bats (TT) (TB) (FT)
The sun is setting, the moon’s rising high
Now all the red bats start to fly! (wave red scarf, or add red bats)

(repeat, changing colors)
The moon has gone, the sky’s getting light
And all the red bats say goodnight! (put away red scarves)
Source: Abby the Librarian

Color bats flannel - three yellow bats, three red, and three blue bats on a black background.

Didn’t end up using this one, but I reworded a couple of parts to make it flow a little better, so I’ll post it here!
Fingerplay Rhyme: Five Little Bats
(wiggle each finger)
Five little bats hanging in a cave
First one said, “Tonight I’m feeling brave”
Second one said, “There are mosquitoes in the air”
Third one said, “Let’s eat them here and there”
Fourth one said, “I’m ready to see the sky”
Fifth one said, “Let’s fly, fly, fly”
Then WHOOSH went the wind And out went the light (clap!)
And the five little bats flew off in the night (hook thumbs together and flap hands)
Source: adapted from Esther Storytimes

I made this flannel last year for a pumpkin storytime, and since it included both a cat and a bat thought it would be a nice closer.
Felt Rhyme: Orange Pumpkin (TT) (TB) (FT)
Orange pumpkin, Orange pumpkin
What do you see?
I see a red leaf looking at me!

Continue with:
Red leaf > Black cat > Gray owl > Brown bat > Yellow moon > Orange Jack-o-Lantern
Source: original

Flannel with various items: orange pumpkin, Red leaf, Black cat, Gray owl, Brown bat, Yellow crescent moon, and an inset shows that the orange pumpkin can be flipped over to reveal a Jack-o-Lantern face on the back (yellow eyes and mouth)

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Craft: Cut Out Cats and Clothespin Bats (TB) (FT)
We have a die cut for the clothespin bats, and I’ve used the adorable cut out cat craft from Literary Hoots (I think originally from Storytime Katie) before at another library. This is the first time I’ve put out scissors for a craft at this library. Mostly the adults did the cutting, but this was during a fall break so I actually had some older siblings who did their own cutting. I let everyone know they could do both crafts if they wanted, but if they choose just one, that’s fine, too. The clothespin bats were just gluing the cardstock to the pins and drawing a chalk face on. Because the directions to make the cats are a little more involved than just looking at a sample, I made tent cards with the how-to to put on each table. (Photos on the instructions from Literary Hoots.)

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Baby Bat’s Lullaby – Jacquelyn Mitchard & Julia Noonan
How to Be a Cat – Nikki McClure
Fiona the Fruit Bat – Dan Riskin & Rachel Qiuqi
Atticus Caticus – Sarah Maizes & Kara Kramer
Bats at the Library – Brian Lies
Bat Wings! Cat Wings? – Laura Gehl & Monique Felix
Cat’s Very Good Day – Kristen Tracy & David Small
Little Lost Bat – Sandra Markle & Alan Marks
Gato Guapo – Anika Aldamuy Denise & Zara González Hoang
Little Bat Up All Day – Brian Lies
Cookie’s Week – Cindy Ward & Tomie dePaola

This storytime was presented in-person on 10/23, 10/24, & 10/25/23.

Storytime Handout:

*Lyrics to these songs can be found on the Repeated Songs & Rhymes page.

**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for:
(TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2
(TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5
(FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5

STEM Storytime: Windy Days

Posted on October 21, 2023October 21, 2023 by msemilylibrary

Every so often it’s nice to mix things up a little! This week, I went back to a training I’d attended in 2019 about incorporating STEM into storytimes, created by the Franklin Institute, a science museum in Philadelphia. They put together a packet of material called “Leap into Science” and made it available for free! This focused on plans for a preschool, elementary, and family program that incorporated literacy/storytime with the science of wind. Since then, there have been two other topics, Light & Shadow and Balance. You can find the free materials, including training videos and the full PDF curricula, at http://leap.fi.edu/resources.

In the past, I had presented this to a slightly older audience, more preschool age, as well as a separate program for families with all ages of child, and basically followed the outline in the curriculum for these programs. With my current group of kids up to age 3.5, I simplified, and ran the program as a half-storytime, half-science-station situation. It worked well, and I think my kids enjoyed the novelty and the hands-on elements.

Early Literacy Tip: You can encourage scientific thinking by asking children to observe, ask questions, make predictions, test their ideas, and learn from repeated attempts. These practices strengthen critical thinking skills that are essential in both science and literacy learning. Focusing on the process of science rather than a specific product or outcome frees children and to explore and take risks.

Welcome Song: Hello, Friends* (TT) (TB) (FT)**

Lifting Rhyme: Toast in the Toaster* (TT) (FT)

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big* (TB)

Intro: A few years ago I had the opportunity to do a training on incorporating STEM into storytime. The science part of today’s storytime was developed by the Franklin Institute, a science museum in Philadelphia. Our goal today is to have fun exploring the wind and to feel like scientists. So KIDS get to be scientists- explore and ask questions, make predictions, and test and explore possible answers. Caregivers –your job today is to help your scientists. Ask them open ended questions, give them help if they need it, but allow your kiddos to take the lead!

Science Talk: Breeze Vs. Gust (TT) (TB) (FT)
We had a discussion about what they already know about wind, and introduced the vocabulary of “breeze” vs. “gust.”
Have you ever been outside on a windy day?
How did it feel?
What did you see?
Let’s make our own wind! – hold your hand in front of your face and blow into it – 3, 2, 1, GO!
What did you notice? How did it feel?
Who made a soft, gentle wind? What did that feel like? A soft, gentle wind is called a breeze.
Who made a strong, hard wind? What did you notice? A strong, hard wind is called a gust.
Okay, everyone blow a breeze – gentle.
Now everyone blow a gust – strong.
Stand up – let’s see what kind of wind we can make with this. I used a large plastic tub lid to wave a gentle breeze at the group.
How did that feel? What did you see?
Look at clothes and hair as I do it again.
Predicting – if I wave a strong gust toward you, how will it feel different?

Transition: If You’re Ready for a Story* (TT) (TB) (FT)

As I introduced both books, I asked if the group could tell it’s supposed to be windy, and what clues on the cover let them know.
Read: Like a Windy Day by Frank Asch & Devin Asch (TT)

This one is great since it uses the language of breeze and gust. And the illustrations are gorgeous.
Read: Windy Days by Deborah Kerbel & Miki Sato (TB) (FT)

We handed out scarves for our rhymes.
Scarf Rhyme: Wind, Oh Wind (TT) (TB) (FT)
Wind, oh wind, Oh wind I say
What are you blowing away today?
Scarves, scarves, scarves, I say
I am blowing the scarves away, today
What else might the wind blow? Leaves, hats…?
Source: King County (WA) Library System

Scarf Rhyme: Windmills (TT) (TB) (FT)
The wind blows high (wave scarves/hands high)
And the wind blows low (wave scarves low)
Round and round the windmills go (roll arms or wave scarf in a circle)
Sometimes fast, and sometimes slow (roll fast, then slow)
And that is how the wind blows (wave scarf/hands)
Source: Adventures in Storytime

Scarf Rhyme: I See the Wind (TT)
(mime the object with scarves)
I see the wind when the leaves dance by
I see the wind when the clothes wave “Hi!”
I see the wind when the trees bend low
I see the wind when the flags all blow
I see the wind when the kites fly high
I see the wind when the clouds float by
I see the wind when it blows my hair
I see the wind ‘most everywhere!
Source: Mild-Mannered Librarian

Scarf Song: Noisy Wind (TT) (TB) (FT)
(tune of The Farmer in the Dell)
I like the noisy wind, I like the noisy wind
It roars and mutters and shakes the shutters
I like the noisy wind!

I like the noisy wind, I like the noisy wind
It flaps the flag and rustles my bag
I like the noisy wind!
Source: Mild-Mannered Librarian

Science Stations
After doing a few songs and rhymes, we brought our scarves back to put away, and I explained the stations. My Toddler Time group doesn’t usually do a craft, so they had the first three stations only, but Teddy Bears and Family Time also included making wind detectors.

Station 1: Leaf Blower (TT) (TB) (FT)
Fabric leaves, foam leaves, flat paper, and crumpled paper were available to move using a paper fan, a folded fan, squeeze bottles, and fish squirter bath toys. I also provided a yardstick in case they wanted to measure how far their leaves blew.

Station 2: What Moves? (TT) (TB) (FT)
Using the same tools (paper fan, folded fan, squeeze bottles and fish squirters), kids could test different objects and sort them into “easy to move” and “hard to move” bins. I collected random objects such as plastic eggs, tissues, pompoms, cotton balls, feathers, and fabric leaves for the “easy to move” items, and rocks, large 2″ buttons, binder clips, plastic turtles, clothespins, little bottles of bubble solution, and trees and signs from our train set for the “hard to move” items.

Station 3: Race the Wind (TT) (TB) (FT)
Boats with different kinds of sails float in a plastic tub of water. Handheld battery powered fans were available to test them out (not pictured). This was a science experiment on my part – I originally made boats with household sponges (which I’d seen instructions for online), but unfortunately my boats just instantly absorbed water and sank. I guess there are different densities of sponge and mine just didn’t work. Instead, I used these small plastic yogurt containers that I had a large stash of. After taping the mast and sail to the front, I had to counterbalance them with coins taped to the other side. It was a bit of a nail-biter to figure it all out, but in the end, the boats worked well for our station. Definitely reinforces the fact that programmers need to try it out before putting it out for the kids!

Station 4: Flying Colors (TB) (FT)
This station acted as our craft, and the idea is to make something that detects a breeze and a gust in different ways. The example I made and was featured in the curriculum is a craft stick with a feather, crepe paper streamer, and piece of yarn. The idea being that maybe only the feather will move in a very light breeze, and the heavier yarn may only move in a strong gust. For older kids, I may not have created an example, letting them be creative and test different designs, but our group only had a limited amount of time and I wanted them to leave with a finished wind detector. There was a larger fan with variable speeds available for them to test their creations.

Science Debrief:
How did you move things with wind today?
How did you make a breeze? A gust?
Did anything happen that surprised you?
How did you feel like a scientist today? When did you make a guess about something and test it? Was there a time when you tried something over and over? Did you have fun?
Thank you for doing great work as scientists. In the next few weeks – remember to keep your scientist hats on and notice and observe how objects move in the wind outside or at home.

Action Song: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Goodbye Song: See You Later Alligator* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Goodbye Rhyme: Tickle the Stars* (TT) (TB) (FT)

Other books I had available for families to browse (and may work for you on this theme)
Kite Day – Will Hillenbrand
The Wind Blew – Pat Hutchins
Gusts and Gales – Josepha Sherman & Omarr Wesley
Kate, Who Tamed the Wind – Liz Garton Scanlon & Lee White
I Am the Wind – Michael Karg & Sophie Diao
Wild Is the Wind – Grahame Baker-Smith
Windblown – Édouard Manceau
The Windy Day – G. Brian Karas
Someone Bigger – Jonathan Emmett & Adrian Reynolds

This storytime was presented in-person on 10/9, 10/10, & 10/11/23.

Storytime Handout:

handout with suggested books, rhymes and songs, questions to encourage your scientist, and try it at home: bathtime sponge sailboats.

*Lyrics to these songs can be found on the Repeated Songs & Rhymes page.

**These symbols indicate the program sessions I used the activities for:
(TT) Toddler Time, ages 1-2
(TB) Teddy Bears, ages 2-3.5
(FT) Family Time, ages 0-3.5

Book Babies Storytime (February)

Posted on October 13, 2023October 4, 2023 by msemilylibrary

I wrote up my plan for my very first Book Babies sessions in January of this year, but I’m realizing I haven’t updated it at all. I do the same themeless plan a month at a time, to get the caregivers familiar and comfortable with the songs and rhymes. I usually switch to a different prop each month, and change out songs and rhymes a few at a time, so there are always a few familiars in the lineup.

This has really turned out to be a great program, and I consistently get eight to twelve babies, which seems just right. We have a lot of fun bouncing, singing, tickling, and giggling. After the first month, I instituted a few minutes of individual reading instead of reading aloud to the group. The books I’ll feature in the photos below are just some of my favorite board books I’ve passed around.

Early Literacy Tip: Singing to your child is important, and it doesn’t matter if you sing in English or another language. In one scientific study, babies as young as one week could distinguish their mother’s voice from a group of other female voices. Singing helps trigger speech development, and children love hearing their grownups’ voices, so sing aloud to your children at home in any language you like.

One last rhyme with Scout the puppet, adapted from one about “Teddy.” I have looked for the source that I got this one and unfortunately I did not record it. I tried googling but nothing came up. If anyone knows the source, I’m happy to give credit!
Puppet Rhyme: Where’s Scout?
Let’s clap our hands for Scout,
Scout’s come to play
Cover up your eyes
While Scout hides away! (hide puppet behind back)
Where’s Scout? Here he is! (reveal puppet)

Light brown dog hand puppet named "Scout." Scout is a hound dog with big floppy ears and jowls on the sides of his mouth.

I feel that a body part song is an important part of baby programming. This one can be repeated with any body parts, and I started jotting down some different options to do each time. I’m currently doing three verses, always starting with “nose.”
Body Song: Hello, Everybody, Can You Touch Your Nose?
Well, hello, everybody,
Can you touch your nose?
Touch your nose,
Touch your nose?
Well, hello, everybody,
Can you touch your nose?
Touch…your…nose!

Other verses:
Touch your toes, rub your tummy, pat your back, touch your chin, touch your ears, squeeze your knees, touch your hands, pat your head, clap your hands, tickle your neck, etc.
Source: Jbrary

This is a hit with every group I try it in, and the babies are no exception!
Bounce: Toast in the Toaster
I’m toast in the toaster,
I’m getting very hot
Tick tock, tick tock,
UP I pop!
Source: Jbrary

After a fun bounce, we slow it down a bit with a lullaby. I remind grownups that rocking and holding your baby while singing is a great way to calm them, even if it’s not bedtime. I asked the group if anyone knows how to say “I love you” in another language, and we did do several different versions in the weeks that we sang this one!
Bilingual Lullaby with Ukulele: Yo te amo / I Love You
Yo te amo, yo te amo
All day long I’ll sing this little song to you.
Yo te amo, yo te amo
Darling, I love you!
Source: Jbrary
Thanks to Storytime Ukulele, who published the chords to this song. I made my own PDF version that you can download.

Get a downloadable ukulele songsheet here!

Pictured: Ten Little Birds/Diez Pajaritos – 123 Andrés & Sara Palacios
Whose Knees Are These? – Jabari Asim & LeUyen Pham
Opposites – Sandra Boynton
I Love All of Me – Lorie Ann Grover & Carolina Búzio

After reading, we do a rhyme that’s good for “on your back” – maybe one to do after a diaper change. It ends in a tickle!
Tickle Rhyme: Wiggle Waggle Went the Bear
Wiggle, waggle went the bear (open and close baby’s legs)
Catching bees in his underwear
One bee out, (open) one bee in (close)
One bee bit him on his big bearskin!
Bzz! Bzz! Bzz! (tickle)
Source: Jbrary

Prop Songs & Rhymes
Each month is a new prop. This month we got out the scarves.

Fingerplay/Scarf Song: Rain Is Falling Down
Rain is falling down, SPLASH (wiggle fingers/scarf down, then to ground)
Rain is falling down, SPLASH
Pitter patter, pitter patter (softly drum ground)
Rain is falling down, SPLASH

Sun is peeking out, PEEK (hide behind scarf)
Sun is peeking out, PEEK
Peeking here, peeking there
Sun is peeking out, PEEK
Source: Jbrary

Action/Scarf Song: Come Under My Umbrella
(tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie?)
Come under my umbrella, umbrella, umbrella (scarf over head)
Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain (wiggle scarf)
With thunder and lightning, and lightning and thunder (wave scarf dramatically in the air)
Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain
Source: traditional, see it used with scarves here

Action/Scarf Song: This Is the Way We Wash
(tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we wash our face,
Wash our face, wash our face!
This is the way we wash our face, When we take a bath!
(arms, legs, back, tummy, etc.)
Source: Greenville Library

Scarf Song: Peek a Boo
(tune of Frère Jacques)
Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo
I see you, I see you
I see your button nose
I see your tiny toes
I see you! Peek-a-boo!
Source: Jbrary

And that’s it! We don’t have time for free play at the end, but I encouraged grownups to take a little time in the children’s department to play and socialize together.

Suggested books are a little different on my handout since at my library board books are not able to be held if they’re checked out. My handout says:
Check out our board book selections – they cannot be held or requested, so see what’s available anytime you visit the library! Here are some other titles that *can* be requested:
B Is for Baby – Atinuke & Angela Brooksbank
Knock at the Door – Kay Chorao
Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy – Denise Fleming
Hello Baby! – Mem Fox & Steve Jenkins
Bright Brown Baby – Andrea Davis Pinkney & Brian Pinkney
Jazz Baby – Lisa Wheeler & R. Gregory Christie
Ten Tiny Tickles – Karen Katz

This storytime was presented in-person on 2/6, 2/13, & 2/20/23.

Storytime Handout: